Screw and nut fastening



July 22 1941- f c. J. wHlTcoMBE SCREW AND NUT FASTENING- Filed sept. s, 1940 Patented July 22.1941

' SCREW AND NUT rAs'rENING- christopher John whnmmbe, smethwiek.- England, assignor to Guest, Keen t Limited, Smethwlch'Entland Appliciantion September 3 Nettlefolds,

, 194e, sexismo. 355,268.

Britain September 21, 1939 iovonims.

'I'his invention relates to screw andnut fastenings, and refers more particularly to that kind of fastening which includes an element incorporating one or more nuts mounted upon an attachment member and having a limited movement inrelation thereto, but preventedfrom rotation about its own axis, the element being primarily intended `for use in cases where a nut or nuts are diiiicult of access, or wherein access cannot be obtained thereto.

In such cases the attachment member is fixed to one of the members to be secured `and is pro-V vided with a hole for each nut, which hole is larger than the bore of the nut so that the screws can be engaged therewith, and the movement permitted between the nut lor nuts and the at tachment member enables the nut or nuts to be brought'into axial alignmentwith the screw or screws.

One of the objects of the present invention is to enable screws to be engaged with the nuts when the screw holes are not accurately spaced.

A further object of the present invention is to enable nuts formed from standard bar to be used.

A further object of the present inventionis to venable screws to be engaged with the nuts when the axis of the screw hole is not accurately at right angles to theplane of the face of the attachment plate.

Referring to the drawing:

excluded. The nuts are of course prevented from turning about their own axes by the ats on the nuts and on the pockets.

carrierv plate has a at' portion or flange I6, portion constitutes' the laterally -projecting lugs f Il which engage in channels I8 formed at the edges of the attachment plate I9. The width of the channels I8 may, as shown, be slightly greater than the thickness of theA part AI6 so that if a nut is a tight fit in its pocket a slight rocking movement of the nut and carrier platec is K permitted for the purpose already referred to.

Figure 1 isa perspective view showing one -construction in accordance with the present invention. l

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure l. v Figure 3 is a segtion on line 3-3 of Figure l. Figure is a pl n view partly in section. Figure 5 is a-perspective view of a modicaon. Figure 6 is a plan view showing a further modi- Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a further modication. l

In the constructions ing, each can'ier plate I0 is formed initially as a fiat plate but has its centrep'ortion pressed to form a pocket for receiving a nut I 2. The nut I2 shown is made in accordance with British Specification No.k 515,929 but other forms of lock nuts may be used, or ordinary nuts. The end of the pocket is provided with an opening I3, which opening is larger in diameter than that of the bore of the nut.

By mounting the nuts in carrier plates, nuts of ordinary form, i..e. made from standard section bar without being machined down, can `be mounted in the attachment plate, the pprtions I6 of the carrier plates serving to retain the nuts on the attachment plate.

The attachment plate is provided with a number of spacedj holes 20, one for each nut, and these holes are of larger diameter -than the diameter of the bore of the nut.

The attachment plate is of.,channel section and the carrier plates containingthe nuts are slidden along the channelv until they reach the correct positions. I

The attachment plate is provided with stop means which permit some movement by each serve to limit such movement.

As'shown, the edges of the attachment plate are slit at various spaced positions as indicated atf2 i and after the nuts and carrier plates are in position in the `channel the metal 22 at o ne side of each slit' is bent downwardly to form a stop. slitting is Ynot essential as the stops can be formed by indennng the edges pf the plate I9 or illustrated in theldraw- Preferably the nuts are an easy fit in the pockets so that the possibility of the nut tilting or rocking slightly if required to bring the axis of its hole in line with/the axis of the screw is not by the method to be hereinafter described with reference to Figure 6.

Y It will be seen that thef'stops i2 are spaced apart by a distance somewhat greater than the length o'uthe part I6 of each carrier plate, so

that each' carrier platecan make a short limited movement along the length of the channel.

Further, it will be seen that the width between h.

the bases of the channelsv I8 is somewhat greater than the width of each part I6, so that the carrier plates are able to make a short limited movement-transversely in relation to the channel. In-

practice, whena screw such ars-2.3 is inserted in the nut it turns the nut and/its carrier plate about its own until diagonally opposite corners of the part I6 come into contact with the bases of the channel, After this position has been reached the nut and carrier plate does not carrier plate along the attachment plate but,

. screws are in position.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the assembly is placed upon'one side. of the work and the screws 23 are inserted from the other side. Should the holes in the work be slightly out Aof position the freedom of movement permitted to the nuts and carrier plates enables the screwsto engage in the nuts without diilculty.

The carrier plate I9 is preferably provided with a number of holes in its base placed between the positions where the nuts-and their carrier plates are situated, so that the carrier plate can be secured to'the work by riveting or similar 'means A modification is shown in Figure 5, wherein a single nut and carrier are mounted upon a short attachment plate 24 having lugs 25 at its ends by which it may be secured in position.

In this construction the stops 22 are formed by the 'same method as that shown in Figures 1 and 3. l

An alternative construction is shown in Figure 6 wherein the stops for limiting the longitudinal movement of the carrier plate -are formed .as

integral lugs 26 on the edge of the plate 24, these l engaging with the pocket portion of the carrier -plate I0. Two of the lugs 26 at one end oppositey edges of the flange engaging in said channels, theA distance between said edgesbeing less than the distance between the bases of the channels,y portions of the edges of the channels near the e'nds of the carrier plate beingV bent down to form stops to limit movement of the carrier plate along the length of the attachment plate, and a nut non-rotatably mounted in'said pocket, said pocket being of cup like form of greater depth than the thickness of the nut and having its end formed by a. continuous inwardly directed ange completely covering the end of the nut except for the bore, said attachment plate having an opening of larger diameter than .that of the bore of the nut, said opening regisf less than the distance between the bases of the channels, lugs on the edges of the attachment plate adapted to engage with said pocket to limit movement of the carrier plate parallel to the channels,v and a nut non-rotatably mounted in said pocket', said pocket being of cup like form of greater'depth than the thickness of the nut be used in connection with an assembly containing several nuts as shown in Figure 1, and in such a construction all the lugs 26, except two situated at one end o f the attachment plate are initially formed so that they are bent away from the attachment plate to allow carrier plates containing the nuts to be slidden into position. The lugs 26 are afterwards bent down into their oper- 'ative position.

In cases where a large amount of floating movement for the nut is required the holes 20 in the attachment 4plate may be so large that there ls 'danger'of the'nut dropping through such holes, and in suchr cases the construction shown inFigure '7 may be fused, wherein the nut is retained in thepockethf the carrier plate I 0 by a'cover plate 21 having a hole 28' which is only slightly largerl than the bore of the nut.

The' cover plates 21 havetheir edges 29 bent and having its end formed'- by a continuous inwardly directed flange completely covering the end of the nut except for the bore, said attachment plate h aving an opening of larger diameter than thatv of the bore of the nut, said opening registering approximately with the bore of the nut.

4. A screw fastening element comprising an vattachment plate having edges of channel form. a carrier plate having a pocket and a iiange, a

nut non-rotatably mounted in said pocket, said pocket being of cup like form of greater depth -than the thickness of the nut and having its end formed by a continuous inwardly directed flange completely covering the end of the nut except for the bore, and a cover plate extending over to embrace the edges of the parts I6 `of the carrier plates, and the channels I8 are made wide enough to receive the edges 29 of the cover plates.

L1A screw fastening element-comprising an attachment plate having edges of channel form,

channels, stop means on the attachment plate adapted to engage with said carrier plate, and a nut non-rotatably mounted in said pocket, said pocket having an end portion which completely encloses the'end of the nut except for the bore,

across the flange of the carrier plate and retaining the nut in the pocket, said cover plate having an opening as large as the bore o f the nut and registering therewith, opposite edges of the cover plate embracing edges ofthe flange and engaging in said channels, the distance between said edges being less than the distance between the bases of the channels, said attachment. plate having Q .an opening approximately registering with the and said pocket being of greater depth than the thickness-of the nut. said attachment plate having an opening' of larger diameter than that of the bore of the nut, said opening registering approximately with the bore of the nut.

2.A vscrew fastening element comprising an attachment platehaving edges of channel form, a carrier plate having a pocket and a flange,

' a plurality of carrier plates each having a pocket opening inthe cover plate and of larger diameter than that of the cover plate opening.

\ 5.A screw fastening element comprising an attachment plate having edges oi' channel form;

and a flange. a nut non-rotatably mounted in each of said carrier plates. the carrier plates containing the nuts being mounted'at'intervals along the length of the attachment plate, opposite edges of the flanges on -the 'carrier plates engaging loosely in the channels vof the attachment plate, permitting the, end face of the nut to move out of parallelism with the face of the attachment plate. stop means on the attachment plate adapted to engage opposite ends of each carrier plate to permit but limit movement of the carrier=plates along the attachment plate,

`said attachment plate having openings approxiattachment plate having edges oi channel form, l a carrierplate having a pocket and a ange, opposite edges of vthe iiange engaging in said tween said edges being less than the distance between the bases oi the channels, the width oi'.

i said channels being. greater than that provided by the embracing ends of the coverY plate. permitting the end iaoe of the nut to move out ot5g parauelismwith the 'race o: the attachment approximately registering with the opening in the cover plate and of larger diameter than that channels, the distance between said edges beingl 5 of thecover plate opening. less than the distance between the bases oi the 9. A screw fastening element comprising` an channels, stop means on the attachment plate attachment .plate having edges oi channel form, adapted to, engage, with said carrier plate, and a carrier plate having a pocket and a flange, a a nut noni-rotatably but rockably mounted in nut non-rotatbly mounted in said pocket, and said poeket permitting the end face of the vnut 1o a cover plate kextending across the ilange of the to move out of parallelism with the iace of the carrier plate and retaining the nut in the pocket, attachment plate, said attachment plate having said cover plate having an opening asvlarge as an opening of larger diameter than that of the the bore of the nut and registering therewith, bore of the nut, said opening registering approxadjacent edges of the cover plate and the carrier --imately with the bore of the nut. 15 plate being secured together and forming iianges 7. A screw fastening element comprising an engaging in'said channels, the `thickness of said 'attachment plate having edges ot channel form, ilangey being less than the width of said channels. va carrier plate having a pocket and a ilange, so that the carrier plate has a limited rocking opposite edges oi' the `lange engaging in said movement on the attachment plate permitting channels, the distance between said 'edges being 20 the end i'ace of the nut to move out oi parallelism less than the distance between the `bases of the with the iaceo! the attachment plate. the dischannels, the thickness of said ange being less tance between said edges being less than the than the wldthrof said channels so that the cardistance between the bases of vthe channels, stop rier plate has a limited rocking movement on means on the attachment plate adaptedto engage Athe attachment plate permitting the end face g5 with said carrier plate, said attachment plate -oi the lnut to move out of parallelism with the having an opening approximately-` registering face of the attachment plate, stop means on the vwith the opening in the cover plate Yand of larger attachment plate 'adapted to engage with said diameter than that oiA the cover plate opening. carrier plate, and a nut non-rotatably mounted l0, A screw fastening element comprising an in said pocket, said attachment platerhaving an'. 30 attachment plate having edges` of channel iorm, opening of larger diameter than that of the bore a carrier plate having a pocket and a ilange, *of the nut, said opening registering approxioppodte edges o f the ilahge'engnint insaid mately with the bore of the nut. channels .the distance between said edges bein! 8. A screw fastening element comprising an less than the distance between the bases o! the .attachment plete having edges oi channel form, so channels, stop means on the attachmentl plate e' Gefrier Dltehvins P. Docket and a' 11e-D86. n adapted to engage with said carrier plate, and nut nen-Inflatably mounted inmsed Docket. S1501) a nut non-rotatably mounted` in said pocket. means on the attachment plate adapted to ensaid. pockewbeing oi 4cup'like form of greater gage with said carrier Plate. and a cover plate depth than the thickness of the nut and having extending laereas `the ange of the carrier plate 4.0 its end formed by a continuous inwardly directed andretaining the nut in the pocket, said cover flange completely covering the end ot the nut Plate having an Opening as large 53u10 bore 0f except i'or the bore. said nut being an easy iit the nut and registering therewith, opposite edges A in said pocket permitting the end face of the of the cover plate embracing edges ot the ilange nut' to mute out of .parallelism with the face oi' and engaging in Seid channels. the distance be- 45 the attachment plate, said attachment' plate having an opening oi larger diameter than that oi the. bore oi.' the nut, said opening registering e approximately with the bore oi the nut.

CHRISTOPHER JonN wmmoma plate, said attachment plate having an opening, 

